“Grig” is G.M. Ryan Grigson. And Irsay has now tipped Grig’s hand regarding the potential desire to find a running back.

While it’s fairly obvious that the Colts could be looking, it’s hard to maximize trade leverage if folks in the organization are proclaiming, “Hey, we want to trade for a running back!”

Besides, trading for a veteran running back may not be the best way to fill the void. At the running back position, “next man up” is often the better the approach, with young players filling the void as the depth chart kicks upward.

But if the Colts decide to pursue the trade route, some intriguing options are floating around. The Jaguars could decide to get what they can from Maurice Jones-Drew in his contract year, and the Texans could resolve Ben Tate’s desire to play more by sending him to a place where he will. Of course, neither Jacksonville or Houston may be inclined to strike a deal with someone in their division.

Elsewhere, the Bills could (in theory) decide to clear out Fred Jackson so that C.J. Spiller could be the featured back, the Vikings could opt to get value for Toby Gerhart (a second-round pick in the final year of his rookie deal), the Falcons could be willing to move Jacquizz Rodgers, who was a forgotten man in Week One, and the Rams could choose to move on from Isaiah Pead.

This effort to list the possibilities likely means I’ve left out the guy(s) the Colts would actually target. Maybe the best approach is to target no one via trade, and to rely on young players and other available free agents to fill the void.

Grigs better look at a solid OL body that will improve our putrid protection of Luck.

cletusvandam says:Sep 15, 2013 8:54 AM

After Irsay hyped up the signing of Heyward-Bey as being some huge FA coup his head will probably explode if the Colts make a move for a RB. Then they will end up with some has been or never was like Legarrette Blount or Ronnie Brown.

EJ says:Sep 15, 2013 9:00 AM

Fred Jackson? You’re joking around… right Florio? You don’t actually think the Bills are going to trade away the only player that sparked the Offense last week, do you? Freddy Jackson was born a Buffalo Bill and he will retire as one. Irsay needs to look elsewhere.

greyhawk9 says:Sep 15, 2013 9:08 AM

Christine Michael would have been a great draft pick for the Colts this year… Giving up anything for Jones-drew at his age is a waste of time… He’d probably hold out for a new contract as soon as he signed

Don’t forget the Cowboys. Since they have made many trades already since training camp that is not out of the question. In fact the boys tried to trade one of the running backs to a unknown team just before the season opener. If they do its likely going to be Phillip Tanner.

Fred Jackson is the three down back the Colts need and they should do whatever they can, within reason, to acquire him. I’m sure Fred would love to be traded to a contender instead of freezing in Buffalo where he isn’t even starting. Make it happen Grigs…

I don’t believe we need a veteran running back when we have two on the roster now an are capable of filling the void. Bradshaw, an Brown are good runners with different styles an we are a passing team so don’t waste money. Just a hint draft a running back so Luck can groom to play as he wants him too. Just saying

brohamma says:Sep 15, 2013 9:51 AM

I wouldn’t mind seeing New England make a move for Jacquizz Rodgers, if he’s even available (which I doubt), after the Vereen injury.

berniemadoffsides says:Sep 15, 2013 9:51 AM

McFadden might make sense, though he’ll tear an ACL on the ride to Indy.

As a life long Colts fan, I’m not overly thrilled with Jim’s twitter nonsense, but I don’t see how this in any way hurts their case of making a trade. As soon as Grig’s made 1 phone call, the entire league would know they were in the market anyway.

I don’t think they make a trade for a RB anyway, there simply isn’t any reason too. All we need is better blocking and that could be fixed by simply replacing Mike McGlynn with our rookie Thornton. Good O-line blocking is the key to a good running game and not the RB.